A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…

I answer; That God willeth it seriously, appears manifestly by the declaration of his will already mentioned; viz. his Oath, his Covenant, yea, and the works of each Person in the Trinity, tending to this end, to give life to the world: all which it were blasphemy to think they were not done seriously. Doth the living God swear, and not swear in earnest? God forbid. Doth God enter into Covenant with his creature, and intend no performance of promise according to his Covenant? far be it from the just and holy God to do it, and from us to imagine it. Shall we think each Person in the Trinity slighteth the work of the salvation of mankind, because mankind slighteth to work out their salvation with the Trinity?

I answer; That God willeth it seriously, appeares manifestly by the declaration of his will already mentioned; viz. his Oath, his Covenant, yea, and the workes of each Person in the Trinity, tending to this end, to give life to the world: all which it were blasphemy to thinke they were not done seriously. Doth the living God sweare, and not sweare in earnest? God forbid. Doth God enter into Covenant with his creature, and intend no performance of promise according to his Covenant? farre be it from the just and holy God to doe it, and from us to imagine it. Shall we think each Person in the Trinity slighteth the worke of the salvation of mankind, because mankind slighteth to worke out their salvation with the Trinity?

But, besides the declaration of Gods will, thus seriously expressed, I produce the tears of our Saviour over Jerusalem, lamenting their careless neglect of the day of their peace: which argued, not only in Christ as man, a serious compassion of their affected ignorance and misery; but also, as God, a tender consideration of their peace, and of providing the means for it. Moreover, what shall we think of those passionate exclamations? Oh, that there were in this people an heart to fear me, and to keep my commandments always, that it may go well with them, and with their children for ever! Oh, that they were wise, that they ⟨p. 101⟩understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Oh, that my people had hearkened unto me, and that Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. Do not all these speeches express an earnest and serious affection in God, as concerning the conversion and salvation of this people, whereof sundry died in their sins? It is true, God might have given them such hearts as to have feared and obeyed him; which though he did not, yet his will that they had such hearts was serious still. To clear it by a comparison: The father of the family hath both his son and servant dangerously sick of the stone; to heal them both, the father useth sundry medicines, even all that art prescribeth, except cutting: when he seeth no other remedy, he persuades them both to suffer cutting, to save their lives: they both refuse it; yet his son he taketh, and bindeth him hand and foot, and causeth him to endure it, and so saveth his life. His servant also he urgeth with many vehement inducements, to submit himself to the same remedy; but if a servant obstinately refuse, he will not always strive with him, nor enforce him to such breaking and renting of his body. But yet, did not his Master seriously desire his healing and life, though he did not proceed to the cutting asunder of his flesh, which he saw his servant would not abide to hear of? So in this case, both the elect and men of this world are dangerously sick of a stony heart; to heal both sorts the Lord useth sundry means; promises, judgements, threatenings, and mercies: when all fail, he persuades them to break their hearts and the stone thereof, with cutting and wounding of their consciences: